Saturday, August 16, 2008
After playing two collegiate seasons as a defender, 2006 Madisonville-North Hopkins graduate Jason White has become comfortable with the advanced level of play, but now might be forced to adjust to a new position.
With a highly touted freshman class entering the program at Anderson (Ind.) University, coaches have told White he could split time as a midfielder.
One individual that does not doubt he will make an easy transition is White’s high school coach, John Tichenor.
“There’s no question he’ll pick it up,” he said. “He’s one of those kids, you can pretty much play anywhere and he’ll pick it up, no matter what the system or what the formation is.”
White started 11 games on defense during his freshman season and played in 13 contests during 2007.
In his first collegiate season, White started alongside his friend, fellow freshman Charlie Barleycorn, and two seniors. After the seniors graduated, White and Barleycorn became the veterans as sophomores on a defense that started three freshman, including the goalkeeper on what White called the “baby defense.”
White said with his experience at defense, he feels more comfortable in that position, but he understands the role of the midfielder as well.
“(It) will require a little more ball-handling as opposed to defense,” he said. “If I move to midfield I’ll be helping the midfield control the ball more and get the ball to our forwards to score.”
Over the summer, White worked at the Madisonville City Park pool, but in his free time he trained by running and practicing with other alums against Tichenor’s varsity team.
The scrimmages allow the alumni to stay in shape, but also prepare the Maroon boys for their tougher opponents.
Tichenor said some players might feel inclined to take it to the younger boys with their advanced skills, but not White.
“He’s the type (of player) that’s working with them,” Tichenor said. “If he sees something they could be doing better, he encourages them, things of that nature. It’s a joy to have him out there working with the boys.”
Thinking about White’s days in high school, Tichenor has one particular story he likes to tell.
One game during White’s career, North tied Henderson County 1-1, but Tichenor said he was distraught after the contest and not pleased with his team’s effort.
“I go to work the next morning, and there’s an e-mail from Jason, a two or three-page e-mail,” he said. “It was basically apologizing for their effort and he assured me that was going to change and that we would get better.
“It was just amazing. After that I think he had an impression on his teammates and we made short work of Henderson the next time we played them.”
White said his most memorable moments playing under Tichenor were reaching the Elite 8 in his freshman year and defeating Daviess County at Donley Field to win the region.
The achievements serve as nice memories, but White said he learned a lot of life lessons from Tichenor as well.
“I’m really blessed to have been able to play underneath him,” White said. “I think the main thing he taught me was that hard work pays off and you don’t have to be the most skilled player out there to get seen. If everyone works hard as a team and not individuals, then you’ll win and achieve a lot more than you can by yourself.”
No matter the position he plays this fall, White said he’s been blessed by God with talents and it’s his job to perfect them.
“I feel like the best thing I can do is work as hard as I can,” he said. “I’ve never been the Pele or the Ronaldo-type player, I just work as hard as I can to just win. It doesn’t matter if I score a lot of goals or get much playing time as long as when I am in, I do the best that I can. I can’t really go away unsatisfied from that.”
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